Sunderland v Arsenal: Can the Gunners tame the Black Cats?
Arsenal enjoyed a confidence boosting 7-1 win over Blackburn at home last weekend but this Saturday will be an altogether different test for Arsene Wenger's Gunners as they take on the Premier League's in-form side Sunderland.
The Black Cats have lost just twice since Martin O'Neill arrived on Wearside - both away in the captial against Spurs and Chelsea - and they remain an outside bet for a European spot this season. Their midweek FA Cup win over Middlesbrough means they will welcome back Arsenal to the Stadium of Light next weekend, but O'Neill won't be thinking that far ahead just yet.
Arsenal emerged victorious in the return fixture at the Emirates in October thanks to a brace from Robin Van Persie, and the Dutchman will be the Gunners' main threat here again. However, if Wenger's wide men, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Walcott, can put in a similar shift as they did last weekend then Arsenal could give the Black Cats the runaround.
Sunderland players though are brimming with confidence and they just don't look like losing when they cross that white line. Martin O'Neill has them believing they are world beaters and they are repaying their manager's faith in them on the pitch.
Arsenal have enjoyed a mixed bag of results at the Stadium of Light. There was a time when the Gunners always won on Wearside, but you have to go back to May 2008 for their last win there. This will be a tough assignment for Wenger's men. Can they leave the north east with all three points and their Champions League hopes intact or will Sunderland set off more alarm bells at the Emirates? Our pundits think it could be a bad day at the office for the visitors.
Sunderland v Arsenal; Kick Off 3pm February 11 2012
Prediction Panel
|
Arsenal |
Don McMahon |
0 |
V |
1 |
|
Aston Villa |
Frank Pattison |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Blackburn |
Terry Kennedy |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Bolton |
Dave Blackburn |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Chelsea |
Joe Tyler |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Everton |
Chris Goodwin |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Fulham |
Neil Springate |
1 |
V |
3 |
|
Liverpool |
Mark Williams |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Man City |
Callum Rothwell |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Man Utd |
Peter Lee |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Newcastle |
Michael Stout |
0 |
V |
0 |
|
Norwich City |
Sue Read |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
QPR |
Arjun Swaminathan |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Stoke City |
Philip Eccleston |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Sunderland |
Tony Ratton |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Tottenham |
Mike Richards |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Swansea |
Jim White |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
West Brom |
Andy Wakeman |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Wigan |
Alan Moore |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Wolves |
Chris Cox |
0 |
V |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OUR EXPERTS |
|
|
|
|
|
Writer |
Colin Illingworth |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Steve Coulter |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Phil Bundy |
0 |
V |
0 |
|
Writer |
Mitch Waddon |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Writer |
Matt Turner |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
Writer |
Chris Pettitt |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
Writer |
Hugh Larkin |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
Aston Villa fan |
Lynette Ranson |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
Blackpool fan |
Phil Trow |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Boro fan |
Sue Gardener |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
Fulham fan |
Russell Goldman |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Pompey fan |
Dan Taylor |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Pompey fan |
Peter Rendle |
1 |
V |
3 |
|
West Ham fan |
Matthew Beeby |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
West Ham fan |
Nigel Telfer |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Editor |
Antony Melvin |
0 |
V |
0 |
Panel Verdict
It looks as though Arsenal will be lucky to leave Wearside with a point.
Home: 10; Draw: 13; Away: 5. TBA 2
* Do we have it right or do you know better? We’d love to hear from you.
